Bizzare problem, probably RAM related

[LimitedTimeOffer]

The problem I have is, simply, a massive slow down. I've lived with it for a while, because I was too busy with computer-related projects to format - but I'm now thinking this might be something I can fix.

Originially my computer just didn't work, but after messing around in BIOS, it did - but with a disgusting slow-down. So, the slowdown occured after I retrofitted my computer with a old Soundblaster Live! card, designed for Win98. A tech told me the old drivers lower performance, and I downloaded the new drivers, and eventually took out the card - but this can not account for the terrible slow down.

Another thing which is strange is I am now registered as having 224 megs of RAM, when I have a 256 meg chip.

Also, my task manager isn't exactly... working... all the tabs at the top are missing. O_o ALSO-- the loading screens when I turn on my computer are missing - just the little bar at the bottom progressing.

In conclusion, I don't especially want to format, but I have no idea what's going wrong. It could be an unaviodable software issue, but it could be something minor. I've cleaned up my registry, and while there were a bit more than a handful of errors, it still doesn't add up.

OH YEAH

It now says I have 8 KILOBYTES of memory cache!!! WTF?

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Here's my system specs (don't laugh):

Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 1 (build 2600) No details available
1.70 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache <--- this doesn't look right! Just noticed it.
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: Seanix SiS-650
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG 05/30/2002
Drives Memory Modules c,d
46.79 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
5.25 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8320B [CD-ROM drive]
IDE DVD-ROM 16X [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Maxtor 90680D4 [Hard drive] (6.80 GB) -- drive 1, s/n V40679EA, rev PAS23B15, SMART Status: Healthy (I also retrofitted an ancient hard drive, which might have something to do with it, but I don't see how)
WDC WD400EB-00CPF0 [Hard drive] (40.02 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WMAAT8006925, rev 06.04G06, SMART Status: Healthy 224 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'A0' is Empty
Slot 'A1' has 256 MB